Single Review: POND – 'The Weather'

Last month, Perth psych-pop outfit POND released ‘The Weather’ — the title track off of the band’s upcoming seventh album. The track was produced by none other than Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, with fingerprints of his trademark smooth and vintage production style — a style highly sought after by a number of artists including Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Melody’s Echo Chamber and Koi Child. Perhaps this match-up should come as no surprise to audiences as both groups share two members (Nicholas Allbrook and Jay Watson). Following the release of the full album, POND are set to tour the UK and Europe for a massive run of dates including the group’s biggest London show to date.The track itself is an irresistibly smooth melting pot of David Bowie, Tame Impala and Client Liaison. In some sections, the vocal track is particularly reminiscent of an older era of pop artists such as Bowie, however, the inclusion of some unique vocal tones (both natural and synthesised) work to quell this connection before it becomes too obvious. Instrumentally the track flourishes and evolves from a dynamically simple synth and drum ensemble to a marriage of the natural and unnatural tones. This is particularly evident towards the end of the track as the screeches of synthesisers and guitars jump out at listeners like an animal in the dark amongst a bed of warm harmonies supported by a driving drum line. In a statement from the band, the album will offer the band’s expression of the current geopolitical climate; ‘The Weather’ being a metaphor for something very much based in the here and now.